Tulip (lâle) is one of the symbols of Turkey and since hundreds of years, has a special place in our architecture, decorative arts, literature, names, etc. In Europe tulip is mostly known as the flower of Netherlands but as the real tulip lovers gonna know, the first tulip bulb is introduced and gifted to NorthWestern Europeans by a Turkish sultan, Süleyman The Magnificent.

End of march and beginning of april is the period when you can see dozens of types and colors of tulip everywhere in Istanbul, but the best place to celebrate Istanbul Tulip Festival is Emirgân Park at Bosphorus shore. Last three springs, we missed the tulip time of Istanbul, instead we enjoyed the daffodil time of London. That’s why yesterday we headed to Emirgân Park to catch up.

After a nice breakfast and relaxing under the sun like cats at Bosphorus waterfront, the over crowded park shocked us a little but anyway we enjoyed the tulip time (and took few hundreds of tulip photos).

Today (like yesterday) was another sunny day in our little kingdom and we walked to Columbia Road Flower Market for a late breakfast and to buy fresh flowers for our home.

In the market we have our breakfast always in our favorite place at Printers&Stationers in Ezra Street. The sandwiches are tasty and even the market is packed, this little cozy place is quite. Before the owners were serving our smoked salmon sandwiches and red wine while they were preparing to their selfs a morning drink, we were having a chat with their dog.

We didn’t go there for a while and today after buying some anemones for home, we popped for a glass of wine and sandwiches. The sandwiches were delicious again and we tried also the new pork and chutney sandwich. But we noticed some little changes in decoration and service. It looks like they are making a step forward with more staff, putting printed menu on the tables, more choice of sandwich, salad addition to sandwich plates, etc. We hope this step don’t turn our favorite place in the market to a less cozy place.

We love having fresh flowers always at home and keep changing mostly between sunflowers, peonies and sweet williams.

Sunflowers which bring the mediterrannean feeling to our home in dark and rainy London days, are our favorites. Sometimes we love keeping the sunflowers few more days after they loose their freshness and we make our own Van Gogh art piece. So, this is our modest Van Gogh art.

Last summer (our first summer in our little kingdom), was a shock for our Mediterranean bodies. But this year, we are ready for what is waiting for us: 90 days of rain!

After a normal, rainy and windy summer week, this morning we had a little bit of sun. It was a good reason for a walk to London’s famous Columbia Road Flower Market to buy some new rosemaries, thymes, tarragons, peonies and lavenders for our terrace.

Afternoon? Some kitchen activity, making zucchini pickles in a “lovely” rainy afternoon…